Background
Rental property managers are often faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, they want to keep their units full, they want to meet their fair housing obligations and, as good citizens, they want to provide housing to people who need it. On the other hand, in order to stay in business they need to rent to people who are likely to pay their rent and maintain the property. One way to address this dilemma is with a community program that provides high-risk tenants with practical training to help them succeed as tenants.

Rent Smart is a teaching guide designed to be the core of a community tenant education program. It was developed by staff from the University of Wisconsin-Extension in consultation with the Wisconsin Apartment Association, the Wisconsin Trade and Consumer Protection Division, the Tenant Resource Center, the Apartment Association of Southeast Wisconsin and other housing and tenant support groups. It was field tested in several locations before publication.

What's Included?
Rent Smart stresses information that can help participants succeed as tenants and avoid confrontations and legal hassles. The publication is intended for trainers and includes reproducible fact sheets and worksheets for participants as well as masters for overhead transparencies. A model certificate, designed to be awarded to participants who successfully complete the training, is also included.

A key feature of Rent Smart is that it stresses learner participation. Each of the lessons is organized around a series of activities so that participants are actively involved in the learning. Materials are provided to help the instructor use the activities successfully.

Local Partnership Needed
In addition to the curriculum, a successful tenant education program requires a local partnership. Involvement of local rental housing providers in design and delivery of the local program is essential. When this is the case they may be willing to take greater risks with applicants who have completed the program and may even provide financial incentives such as a reduced security deposit. Involvement of local housing authorities and other tenant service providers is also essential. They have contacts with households who would benefit from the program, may be able to help design the program so it meets specific client needs and may have incentives they can provide participants. In one county an agency obtained a grant to provide a partial rent payment to participants who completed the program. In many communities, extension staff members have been available to assist in developing this partnership, developing the initial tenant education program and offering some of the instruction.

The Lessons
1. Where Does the Money Go? - Determining monthly income and tracking expenses

2. Developing an Spending Plan - Planning spending and reducing expenses

3. Making the Most of Your Credit Report - Understanding credit reports and ways to improve credit.

4. Finding a Place to Live - Determining apartment needs and understanding search strategies.

5. Checking Out the Landlord and the Place - interviewing and checking up on landlords

6. The Rental Application Process - Completing a rental application and knowing what landlords look for.

7. Understanding Rental Agreements - Reading and understanding rental agreements.

8. Home Care: Who Is Responsible for What? Understanding when tenants are
responsible for maintenance.

9. Home Care: Keeping It Clean and Safe - Understanding why cleaning is important and ways to do it more efficiently

10. Communicating With Your Landlord and Neighbors - Saying what you mean and resolving conflicts.

11. Moving On: Giving Notice, Security Deposits and Evictions - Ending a tenancy properly and understanding why it is important to do so.

Ordering Information
This sample contains the Table of contents and the first Chapter. To order a CD containing the complete text plus files to make transparencies, please contact:
Extension Publications
877-WIS-PUBS
cecommerce.uwex.edu